Bow stop for stringed instruments



Sept. 13, 1966 T. HENKLE 3,272,055

BOW STOP FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS Filed July 19, 1965 JOHN P. CHANDLER HIS ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,272 055 BOW STOP FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS Theodore Henkle, 5415 Reynolds St., Savannah, Ga. Filed July 19, 1965, Ser. No. 472,943 6 Claims. (Cl. 84-283) This invention relates to bow guide for stringed instruments and relates more particularly to a novel stop means carried on a bow for a violin, viola, cello and bass at a selected point near the tip to limit the length of the stroke.

As is well known to all violinists and other string instrumentalists, the bow must be in a position normal to the strings at all times in order to secure the purest tones. Youthful violin students often use a bow which is too long for them and as a result, when the bow is drawn downwardly towards the tip the student unconsciously departs from the straight line action with which he started and draws the bow in an arcuate pattern around to the rightin the case of the usual right-handed player.

Once this habit is formed, it is virtually impossible to eliminate it when the arm has grown long enough for a full length bow to be drawn in straight line fashion for its full length. This habit is so prevalent that some of the foremost virtuosos with otherwise flawless technique have retained this unconquerable habit. The ideal solution would appear to construct bows in a variety of lengths, each shorter one to be discarded as soon as its short length has been outgrown. The plain fact is that this neverhas been nor probably ever will be done.

Complicated mechanical means, such as that shown in German Patent No. 519,204 of 1931, have been devised in order to shorten the effective length of the bow and discourage the early formation of the habit but such a e device is wholly unacceptable since it depends upon an attachment fixed to the violin and this adds weight to the instrument and makes it unwieldy as well.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel stop of bifurcated contour which clips onto the bow with a frictional action and has two generally parallel legs or prongs which extend beyond the hair. Thus, as the bow is drawn downwardly, the legs of the U-shaped clip contact the violin strings at a given point and this defines the length of the stroke. As the habit of straightening the bow stroke over its correct length fastens itself on the pupil, the stop can be reversed with the legs pointing upwardly and thus form a visual aid in limiting the stroke.

By this device, a youthful beginner becomes accustomed at the very outset to learn the form of correct bowing.

The clip of the present invention can be made from spring metal, either the polished metal'or rubber coated metal, or from molded plastic, and has sufficient resiliency to frictionally engage the wooden stick of the bow so as to remain in an adjusted, fixed position which progressively can be moved towards the tip as the bow arm grows in length.

The bow clip has no effect on the sound produced by the instrument for the player learns to stop almost invariably just short of the stop means just as does a trained violinist seldom causes the tip to contact the strings. It just doesnt sound good so he quickly learns to avoid this contact. Moreover, the bow clip is so light that it does not affect resiliency, balance .or maneuverability of bow. It is well known that fine three-quarter size bows are virtually non-existent so that with bow clip, student may use and become accustomed to a full size bow of quality.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bow clip of the present invention in place on a conventional violin bow;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the clip;

FIG. 3 is a broken elevation showing the clip in inverted position on the bow;

FIG. 4 shows an alternative form where the embodiment is constructed from spring sheet metal.

The device of the present invention .is generally U- shaped and may be stamped from sheet metal or it may be molded from various of the currently available plastic materials in a varity of colors. This device shown at 10 is of bifurcated construction and has two legs 11 and 12. Just above the base of the U, there is a construction comprising two inwardlycurved spaced sections 14 and 1 6 which, together with the curved base section 18 form a substantially circular recess to receive the wooden stick 19 of the bow.

The length of the two legs 11 and 12. is such that they project a short distance beyond the hair 20 of the bow so as to contact the strings of the violin without extending so far as to catch on garments and the like. Being of resilient construction and the circular recess being slightly smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of the stick, a firm non-sliding engagement with the bow is assured at all times.

If the bow is over tightened, the tip will not stop the bow stroke; hence, the tip may also serve to indicate to the beginner that he has tightened his bow too much which gives an added advantage.

FIG. 3 shows the tip in inverted position with the legs pointing upwardly and in this position it acts as a visual guide.

In the modified construction of FIG. 4, the clip 21 is made from sheet metal and has the inwardly curved section 22 to receive the stick of the bow with a friction fit. In this case, one leg 23 is shorter than the second leg 24 so that only the latter contacts the string which satisfies all the requirements of the present invention.

It will also be apparent that this construction may be used in the plastic embodiment.

While there have been described herein what are at present considered preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that the exemplary embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims, and that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included therein.

What I claim is:

1. A stop for a bow for a violin and the like to limit the length of the stroke of the bow and comprising a generally U-shaped clip having a constricted section at the base of the U to receive the bow stick in substantially non-sliding relation and provided with legs extending downwardly from such constricted section between which the hair of the bow is received, the terminals of the legs acting as a stop when they contact the strings of said violin.

2. A stop for limiting the bow stroke of a stringed instrument such as a violin and comprising a generally U-shaped clip having a constricted section at the base of the U to receive the stick of the bow with a friction fit and provided with legs extending downwardly from such constricted section between which the hair of the bow is received, the terminals of the legs acting as a stop when they contact the strings of the instrument.

3. A stop for a bow for a violin or the like to limit the length of the stroke of the bow and comprising a generally U-shaped clip having a contour at the base of the -shaped clip to receive the stick of the bow in substantially non-sliding relation and provided with legs extending downwardly from said base between which the hair of the bow is received, the terminal of at least one of the legs acting as a stop when they contact the strings of the violin.

4. The structure recited in claim 3 wherein one of the legs is longer than the other.

5. A stop for a bow for a violin or the like to limit the length of the stroke of the bow and comprising a generally U-shaped clip formed from spring sheet metal and having a constricted section at the base of the U to receive 4 and provided with legs extending forwardly from such restricted section, between which the hair of the bow is received, the terminal of at least one of the legs acting as a stop when they contact the strings of said violin.

6. The structure recited in claim 5 wherein one of the legs is longer than the other.

No references cited.

the stick of the bow in substantially non-sliding relation 0 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A STOP FOR A BOW FOR A VIOLIN AND THE LIKE TO LIMIT THE LENGTH OF THE STROKE OF THE BOW AND COMPRISING A GENERALLY U-SHAPED CLIP HAVING A CONSTRICTED SECTION AT THE BASE OF THE U TO RECEIVE THE BOW STICK IN SUBSTANTIALLY NON-SLIDING RELATION AND PROVIDED WITH LEGS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SUCH CONSTRICTED SECTION BETWEEN WHICH THE HAIR OF THE BOW IS RECEIVED, THE TERMINALS OF THE LEGS ACTING AS A STOP WHEN THEY CONTACT THE STRINGS OF SAID VIOLIN. 